Patrick Daugherty

Football Daily Dose

Vote Vick?

Chances are, Michael Vick won’t be getting the people of Philadelphia’s vote.

Vick had a night that’s become all too familiar in Monday evening’s loss to the Saints. He tossed a pick in the red zone, nearly killed a drive with a fumble, took seven sacks and attempted to force far too many throws into double, and sometimes even triple, coverage.

It was not a game he’d put on a resume. But don’t for one second think it was all Vick’s fault. When a team makes five trips to the red zone and comes away with only six points? That’s not on one player.

Seven sacks? Against a club that had 13 through seven games coming into Week 9?

At this point in his career, holding onto the ball for too long has become as synonymous with Vick as his electric athleticism and federal prison term. But there was little he could do in the Superdome against a pass rush that often came completely unblocked. Losing RT Todd Herremans to a right foot injury was bad. Fill-in Demetress Bell playing like a Saints’ mole was worse.

Vick was constantly on the run, and even the shrewdest of quarterbacks struggle when they’re running for their life. Vick has never been the shrewdest of quarterbacks, so he shouldn’t be expected to do his best Aaron Rodgers impression whenever the pocket collapses before he has time to even process his first read.

The Eagles are an utter, Cowboys-esque mess. Their vaunted “wide nine” pass rush isn’t generating pressure. Their $60 million cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is getting bowled over. Coach Andy Reid’s usage of all-world running back LeSean McCoy has prompted more than one search party from fantasy owners. And yes, Vick has turned the ball over 14 times in eight games.

But as Monday night made more clear than ever, he’s far from all that ails his seemingly-doomed team. Reid tacitly admitted as much when he ensured there would be no quarterback controversy this week, announcing Vick would be under center against Dallas on Sunday.

If Reid is honest with himself, he’ll realize Vick —who’s actually turned the ball over “just” five times over his past five starts — can still be a part of the solution, not the dissolution. That means he deserves to keep his job, no matter how loud the outside noise grows.

Fantasy owners without an alternative should keep the faith, even if the everyday fan has already lost it.

As for Mark Ingram? Although he doubled his season total with two catches, his usage was more-or-less the same, as well, as he carried the ball just seven times. The good news is, he looked as good as he has all year in doing so, gaining 44 tough yards. He broke tackles, and made moves befitting of a former Heisman trophy winner. Just don’t expect it to equal flex value in Week 10.

The one man whose role did change was Chris Ivory. Active for just the third time all year, Ivory got his first 10 carries, gaining 48 yards. He looked equal parts powerful and explosive, but really didn’t do anything to differentiate himself from Thomas or Ingram. If you have designs on making a waiver-wire bid, keep it reasonable, especially since Sproles could return as early as Sunday.

Run, Gingerly, DMC

Nursing a leg injury, Darren McFadden is considered day-to-day, and has yet to be ruled out for this weekend’s game.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before.

Fairly or unfairly, McFadden is known for one thing more than any other: missing games. The thing most people don’t realize is, he sat on the sidelines just eight times between 2008-10.

But then came 2011, where day-to-day turned to week-to-week to “out for the year.” The difference this time around is McFadden has a sprained ankle, and not a dreaded Lisfranc injury. However, it’s of the “high” variety, an ailment that sidelines players for weeks, not days.

Although McFadden supposedly played through the injury in Sunday’s loss, we have no expectation of him doing so in Week 10. With backup Mike Goodson also dealing with a high-ankle sprain, that leaves FB Marcel Reece and pint-sized burner Taiwan Jones to man the Raiders’ backfield. Reece is the far better add in fantasy leagues, as Jones could end up being little more than a 4-5 touch change-of-pace back.

Mercy, Percy

Typically, a player could have a bone sticking out of his leg and still wouldn’t rule himself out for next week. See McFadden, Darren.

That’s why it’s a bit worrisome Percy Harvin has labeled himself a “long shot” for Week 10 with an ankle that’s sprained in “three places.”

Of course, Harvin has a long history of manufacturing injury drama before ultimately suiting up. But this ailment has all the hallmarks of costing him a game — just his fourth in four seasons. We’ll know more when the Vikings return to practice on Wednesday.

Quick Slants:Maurice Jones-Drew has already been ruled out for Week 10. It makes you wonder just how truthful the Jaguars were being when they insisted his foot injury was not of the Lisfranc variety. … The Vikings aren’t considering benching Christian Ponder even though he’s failed to clear 63 yards passing in two of his past three starts. If he can’t surpass the century mark against Detroit on Sunday, perhaps coach Leslie Frazier’s thinking will change. … Jordy Nelson (ankle, hamstring) is expected to be "fine" coming off the Packers’ Week 10 bye. … Teammate Clay Matthews (hamstring) may not be so lucky, however. The Pack admit he could miss a “couple of weeks.” … Danny Amendola (clavicle) “looks poised” for a Week 10 return. We’ll get a clearer idea of his status on Wednesday, but he needs to be 100 percent owned in fantasy leagues. … Antonio Brown has a “mild” high-ankle sprain. Even though there’s no such thing, consider Brown “day-to-day” until proven otherwise. … Stevie Johnson has a “bad” thigh bruise, but is unlikely to miss any time. … Romeo Crennel fired...Romeo Crennel.

If you cast a vote today, make it for C.J. Spiller to get more touches.

Chances are, Michael Vick won’t be getting the people of Philadelphia’s vote.

Vick had a night that’s become all too familiar in Monday evening’s loss to the Saints. He tossed a pick in the red zone, nearly killed a drive with a fumble, took seven sacks and attempted to force far too many throws into double, and sometimes even triple, coverage.

It was not a game he’d put on a resume. But don’t for one second think it was all Vick’s fault. When a team makes five trips to the red zone and comes away with only six points? That’s not on one player.

Seven sacks? Against a club that had 13 through seven games coming into Week 9?

At this point in his career, holding onto the ball for too long has become as synonymous with Vick as his electric athleticism and federal prison term. But there was little he could do in the Superdome against a pass rush that often came completely unblocked. Losing RT Todd Herremans to a right foot injury was bad. Fill-in Demetress Bell playing like a Saints’ mole was worse.

Vick was constantly on the run, and even the shrewdest of quarterbacks struggle when they’re running for their life. Vick has never been the shrewdest of quarterbacks, so he shouldn’t be expected to do his best Aaron Rodgers impression whenever the pocket collapses before he has time to even process his first read.

The Eagles are an utter, Cowboys-esque mess. Their vaunted “wide nine” pass rush isn’t generating pressure. Their $60 million cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is getting bowled over. Coach Andy Reid’s usage of all-world running back LeSean McCoy has prompted more than one search party from fantasy owners. And yes, Vick has turned the ball over 14 times in eight games.

But as Monday night made more clear than ever, he’s far from all that ails his seemingly-doomed team. Reid tacitly admitted as much when he ensured there would be no quarterback controversy this week, announcing Vick would be under center against Dallas on Sunday.

If Reid is honest with himself, he’ll realize Vick —who’s actually turned the ball over “just” five times over his past five starts — can still be a part of the solution, not the dissolution. That means he deserves to keep his job, no matter how loud the outside noise grows.

Fantasy owners without an alternative should keep the faith, even if the everyday fan has already lost it.

As for Mark Ingram? Although he doubled his season total with two catches, his usage was more-or-less the same, as well, as he carried the ball just seven times. The good news is, he looked as good as he has all year in doing so, gaining 44 tough yards. He broke tackles, and made moves befitting of a former Heisman trophy winner. Just don’t expect it to equal flex value in Week 10.

The one man whose role did change was Chris Ivory. Active for just the third time all year, Ivory got his first 10 carries, gaining 48 yards. He looked equal parts powerful and explosive, but really didn’t do anything to differentiate himself from Thomas or Ingram. If you have designs on making a waiver-wire bid, keep it reasonable, especially since Sproles could return as early as Sunday.

Run, Gingerly, DMC

Nursing a leg injury, Darren McFadden is considered day-to-day, and has yet to be ruled out for this weekend’s game.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before.

Fairly or unfairly, McFadden is known for one thing more than any other: missing games. The thing most people don’t realize is, he sat on the sidelines just eight times between 2008-10.

But then came 2011, where day-to-day turned to week-to-week to “out for the year.” The difference this time around is McFadden has a sprained ankle, and not a dreaded Lisfranc injury. However, it’s of the “high” variety, an ailment that sidelines players for weeks, not days.

Although McFadden supposedly played through the injury in Sunday’s loss, we have no expectation of him doing so in Week 10. With backup Mike Goodson also dealing with a high-ankle sprain, that leaves FB Marcel Reece and pint-sized burner Taiwan Jones to man the Raiders’ backfield. Reece is the far better add in fantasy leagues, as Jones could end up being little more than a 4-5 touch change-of-pace back.

Mercy, Percy

Typically, a player could have a bone sticking out of his leg and still wouldn’t rule himself out for next week. See McFadden, Darren.

That’s why it’s a bit worrisome Percy Harvin has labeled himself a “long shot” for Week 10 with an ankle that’s sprained in “three places.”

Of course, Harvin has a long history of manufacturing injury drama before ultimately suiting up. But this ailment has all the hallmarks of costing him a game — just his fourth in four seasons. We’ll know more when the Vikings return to practice on Wednesday.

Quick Slants:Maurice Jones-Drew has already been ruled out for Week 10. It makes you wonder just how truthful the Jaguars were being when they insisted his foot injury was not of the Lisfranc variety. … The Vikings aren’t considering benching Christian Ponder even though he’s failed to clear 63 yards passing in two of his past three starts. If he can’t surpass the century mark against Detroit on Sunday, perhaps coach Leslie Frazier’s thinking will change. … Jordy Nelson (ankle, hamstring) is expected to be "fine" coming off the Packers’ Week 10 bye. … Teammate Clay Matthews (hamstring) may not be so lucky, however. The Pack admit he could miss a “couple of weeks.” … Danny Amendola (clavicle) “looks poised” for a Week 10 return. We’ll get a clearer idea of his status on Wednesday, but he needs to be 100 percent owned in fantasy leagues. … Antonio Brown has a “mild” high-ankle sprain. Even though there’s no such thing, consider Brown “day-to-day” until proven otherwise. … Stevie Johnson has a “bad” thigh bruise, but is unlikely to miss any time. … Romeo Crennel fired...Romeo Crennel.

If you cast a vote today, make it for C.J. Spiller to get more touches.